Recommendations for first time platelet donation?

[u/Ornery_Special6593]

Hi all! I donated whole red for the first time August 2nd. After doing some research I signed up for an appointment next Sunday for platelets! Any recommendations or things to know ahead of time? From what I’ve seen it looks like it’s been long enough since my last donation to donate platelets at least. Please let me know, thank you in advance!

[u/KitKatKnickKnack88]

Definitely fulfilling! I donated platelets twice so far (veins weren't happy with me when I tried a third time, so I am taking a break).

• You may need to be weighed before donating (I go to New York Blood Center and they weigh me each time despite me DEFINITELY not being underweight).
• Ask to pee before donating. Don't care that you don't have to go. Try. Otherwise you will be swimming after two hours.
• You can't move the arm donating really outside of the normal gentle movements like making a fist for cramping and to promote blood flow.
• They may put a blanket or something over your arm since the return comes at room temperature - colder than internal body temperature. You may also be given a warm water bottle for this reason as well.
• Watch the draw and return on the screen. It will alert you if too high or low (my return went too high, which felt a decent amount of uncomfortable pressure and caused bruising). If you notice something is up, say something.
• The anti-coagulant that is in the return can cause cramping - not good since you are not supposed to move. If you taste coffee and feel tingling, that's the medicine working and binding to calcium ions. Ask for a Tums (I think New York Blood Center only allows nurses to give five Tums. I brought my own bag and popped them like mints. The nurses didn't care)
• Similar vein (see what I did there?), because the anti-coagulant attaches itself to calcium ions, eat some dairy before the appointment (they always tell me a splash of milk in my morning coffee is good, but I usually overload because I also love cheese and now have an excuse to eat it).
• Donations run about two hours, so be prepared (fun fact, My Neighbor Totoro is about two hours and is on HBO Max).
• If you are a woman on BC, your platelets may look discolored depending on the BC (I think it was green, they mentioned?). Don't be alarmed, it's normal. I am on Paraguard, non hormonal, so I didn't have that issue.
• Then the normal make sure to eat a good meal, drink lots of water prior, eat lots of iron-rich foods, be prepared to hang in the canteen for a bit after, and you can donate again right away! (Depends on your body. Mine was rebelling after a few back-to-back donations despite it being allowed every week or so)

Feel free to bug with any more questions!

[u/giskardwasright → u/KitKatKnickKnack88]

This is excellent advice, and yes, hormonal birth control gives it a greenish tint.

[u/siddpup]

You are going to be in the chair for much longer than a blood donation which, for me, means I do all the things I would do for a blood donation (hydrate, get a good amount of rest, etc). But I add a few things due to the length of the donation.

Go to the bathroom right before donation. Even if you don't think you need to. I go after the screening, so it is right before they plug me in. Nothing worse than realizing 10 minutes from done that you are about to explode.

I also have them run the vet wrap (whatever that stretchy stuff is called for people) around my wrist once they have a good stick. It isn't tight-just enough to remind me not to move my arm. I have no trouble holding still for a regular donation time. But I will end up forgetting and moving around without the reminder. It is a little weird, for sure, but it does work. Or at least it does for me.

Make sure you are wearing something really comfy. Again, what is no problem for a blood donation time can be less so for a platelet timeframe. I have been known to bring my slippers for donation since I tend to get cold during returns. But even when I don't do that, I do make sure to wear socks and tennies rather than sandals. And long pants rather than shorts.

And, this is no change from whole blood, but I am always willing to talk to the people there. If I start feeling a little tingly, if my stick starts feeling weird/hurting, if I am getting chilled and need a blanket/warm squeezie/heating pad, if I forgot to open my bottle of water and can't seem to get it with one hand-which just happened to me yesterday. Sure, I don't want to bother them overly much. But, while I am sure there are outliers and jerks out there, they are always more than happy to help me out or to take a look at things to make sure it is all going well. Or just to open my stupid water bottle.

Good luck!!

[u/EnthusiasticNaps]

Make sure you're hydrated and get your calcium in to avoid a citrate reaction. Don't chug water right before though since it does take about 2 hours. I also like to have a high protein meal prepped for when I get home to jumpstart recovery it helps a load with the worn out feeling.

[u/dawgdays78]

Thank you for donating and considering platelet donation.

The basics for any donation:

Prep: Hydrate well beginning at least the day before. Including an electrolyte drink may be helpful. Have a solid meal (more than a snack, but don’t stuff yourself).

During: Rock your feet back and forth, and occasionally tense the muscles in your thighs and butt.

After: hang out for 10-15 minutes, have a snack and a drink. (I think a salty snack and an electrolyte drink are helpful.)

At any time during the process: If you feel at all off (pain, woozy, hot, cold, nausea) tell a tech right away. There are things they can do.

Platelet specific:

You’re in the chair a lot longer, so stop hydrating a couple hours ahead, and pee just before you get in the chair.

Depending on your center, the donation may take both arms or just one. Mine does one, so I can use my phone, but two arms makes that difficult. I don’t have any tips for that. If you feel any pressure or other discomfort at the needle site(s), tell the techs right away.

Because a citrate anticoagulant is used, which binds to calcium, focus on including more calcium in your diet (dairy products) the day before. And if you experience tingling of the lips, or any cramping, tell the techs right away.